Ranking de The Fix

Chris Cillizza actualiza su ranking de candidatos para la nominación republicana:

(...) 1. Mitt Romney: The critics of the health care plan Romney signed into law as governor of Massachusetts have grown more numerous and vocal of late; Former Huckabee, Barbour and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan have all expressed their doubts about Romney's plan. Romney appears to have made a strategic decision not to address the issue just yet, making nary a mention of the health care law in a speech at the CPAC last month. While health care is clearly a liability for Romney, we've noted that everyone in the field has their problems. And Romney still has the best political operation and easiest access to big fundraising dollars in the field. (Previous ranking: 1)

2. Tim Pawlenty: The former Minnesota governor is starting to win people -- including the Fix -- over. He is diligently working at building organizations in Iowa and New Hampshire and there are some signs that those efforts are paying off as he placed a solid third in a January straw poll in the Granite State. The biggest knock on Pawlenty is that he's too nice and/or not charismatic enough to win the nomination. But, Pawlenty is improving -- his 2011 speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference was far better than the 2010 edition -- and, given the flaws in the field, being too nice isn't all that bad. As a result, Pawlenty is the name you hear on more and more lips when asking neutral Republicans who they think their nominee might be. And that's a great place to be right now. (Previous ranking: 5)

3. Sarah Palin: Puzzling out Palin's intentions as they relate to the 2012 presidential race is virtually impossible. Tea leaf readers -- aren't we all? -- took it as a sign that she was moving toward a run when Palin hired Michael Glassner as chief of staff for her political action committee. Of course, Palin also has lost several staffers in recent months -- most notably Jason Recher -- so it's equally plausible to assume those departures mean she isn't running. Here's what we know: Palin is the least orthodox candidate to be a serious contender for a party's presidential nomination in modern history. Her stock also may be on the decline; new polling data out of Iowa suggests she would be something short of a sure thing in the caucuses if she ran. (Previous ranking: 2)

4. Newt Gingrich: As we've noted in this space of late, Gingrich is his own best advocate and worst enemy all wrapped up in one compelling, confusing package. Based on his speech-making abilities, debating skills and demonstrated fundraising prowess, Gingrich should be in the top three of the Line. But, his tendency to veer of message coupled with early signs of dysfunction or, at the very least, miscommunication in his inner circle keep him out of the medal positions on the Line. We still believe Gingrich is well positioned to surprise people in Iowa and a better-than-expected finish in the Hawkeye State would put him in a position to be a player for the nomination. Can Gingrich stay on message -- or something approximating it -- for the next 11 months? (Previous ranking: 3)

5. Mike Huckabee: Everything Huckabee himself is saying lately seems to suggest he isn't likely to run; "I'm not one who thinks the future of the world is depending on whether I run for president," Huckabee recently told Fix colleague Karen Tumulty. And yet, Huckabee continues to lead in nearly every national poll on the 2012 Republican race and is regarded as a frontrunner in Iowa -- where he won in 2008 -- if he runs again. We remain skeptical that Huckabee will give up a very good life in the private sector for another run for president, and his timetable to decide -- likely sometime in the summer -- adds to that sense. Still, stranger things have happened in presidential politics and if Huckabee does get in, there is a case to be made that he could be the nominee. (Previous ranking: 4)

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